Condenser



Jlfly 22 1924.

W. LONSDALE CONDENSER Filed Oct. '0', 1922 2' Sheets-Sheet l tion is illustrated in the accompanying drawin s, in which 1 ig. 1--is a side view of the condenser, partly in elevation and partly in section, on

, 5 theline 11 of Fig. 2.

Fi 2 is a vertical transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, some of the water tubes bein omitted.

The she of the condenser is shownat 6,

1 the exhaust steam connection at 7 the hot well at 8, the water boxes at 9 and 10 and the water connections at 11 and 12. The 'water box 10 is subdivided by a horizontal partition 13, providing a two-pass arrange- 15 ment for the cooling water, as is well understood. The tube sheets are shown at 14 and 15, and the water tubes at 16. These tubes are mounted in the tube sheets in the usual manner, but, as best shown in Fig. 2, are

arranged in two main groups, separated by which extend inward to the steam lane 17 so as to discharge condensate well within the steam lane out of contact with water tubes 16. These plates offer the simplest lcondensate deflecting means known to me,

but other substantially equivalent arrangements will suggest themselves and may be adopted i referred. Besides deflecting the condensate these plates serve to divide the cooling surface into a plurality of subgroups'or clusters, each of which may be, and preferably is, proportioned to produce complete condensation of a proportional amount of the total exhaust steam, without undue cooling of the-resulting condensate.

The structure so far described isof particular utility because a free path to each subdivision of the cooling surface is afforded to the exhaust steam, and at the'same time the condensate is discharged to the hot well through this same steam lane out of contact with the cooling surface. To secure the best efi'ect, however, I provide a special arrangement for 'the dry air or vacuum pump by which this pump is caused to draw non-condensible gases from points closely associated with each subgroup of water tubes.

In the best embodiment of this idea known to me, these, ofi'takes are arranged to draw non-condensible gases 'from points remote from the steam lane 17 and preferably adj acent to the shell of'the condenser, and the.

oiftakes are arranged to extend the entire length of the water tubes and are provided, with inlets at points throughout their entire len h. This avoids the formation of air poc ets in the condenser, induces an even flow of exhaust steam and non-condensible gases through the various subdivisions of the cooling surface and generallp tends to an equalization of th load on a 1 parts of the condenser.

In the referred embodiment, these oi!- takes consist of perforated tubes 20 which extend between the tube sheets 14 and 15, and which are supported therein. The ends of the tubes 20 are, however, plugged, as indicated at 21, so that no water may enter the tubes from the water boxes. Each tube 20 is provided with a connection 22 leadin through the shell 6 of the condenser an ,thence to a manifold structure 23. Two such manifold structures are shown in Fig. 2, and it is contemplated that these two manifolds will be connected to a cooling structure external to the condenser and thence to the usual dry air pump. As the use of such external coolers is familiar to those 'skilled'in the art, it is not necessary to illustrate this feature of the installation.

While I show one ofi'take or vacuum tube 20 associated with each subgroup of the cooling tubes, it is obvious that more might be used in the event, for example, that the subgroups were so large that it became desirable to withdraw the non-condensible gases at more points within the subgroup. It should be observed that each vacuum tube 20, by reason of the provision of a plurality of inlet openings throughout its length and around its entire periphery, is in effect a multiple ofitake and no limitation to the specific structure illustrated is implied. The important thing is that the ofltake for noncondensible gases be properly proportioned to the cooling surface and to the amount of non-condensi'ble gas resent in the condensed steam. It is desira le that it be so positioned relatively tothe coolin surface that the ofi" flow of the non-con ensible gases assists the entering flow of steam to the cooling surface.

What is claimed is 1. In a condenser, the combination of a shell having an exhaust steam inlet; water tubes mounted in said shell and arranged in two main groups spaced apart to provide a substantially vertical steam lane to which said steam inlet leads; condensate deflecting plates extending substantially from the walls of said shell to the margin of said steam lane and serving to divide each main group of water tubes into a plurality of subgroups; conduits for the withdrawal of non-condensible gases mounted among the water tubes of the various subgroups; and vacuum pump connections for said conduits.

2. In a condenser, the combination of ashell having an exhaust steani inlet; water tubes mounted n said. shell and arranged in two main groups spaced apart to provide a substantially vertical steam lane to which said steam inlet leads; condensate deflecting plates extending substantially from the walls of said shell to the margin of said steam lane and serving to divide each main group of water tubes into a plurality of subgroups; conduits for the withdrawal of non-condensible gases, there being a conduit for each subgroup positioned among the water tubes adjacent the walls of said shell; and vacuum pump connections for said conduits.

3. The combination with a water tube condenser having its water tubes arranged within a shell in two main groups with an intervening steam and condensate lane leading from an exhaust steam inlet, at the top to a hot well below, of a plurality of reflectors extending from the shell to the sides of said steam lane and arranged to subdivide said main groups into subgroups and to deflect the condensate from each subgroup into said lane; and ofi'takes for non-condensible gases positioned among the tubes of the various subgroups.

4. The combination with a water tube condenser having its water tubes arranged within a shell in two main groups with an intervening steam and condensate lane leading from an exhaust steam inlet, at the top to a hot well below, of a plurality of deflectors extending from the shell to the sides of said steam lane and arranged to subdivide said main groups into subgroups and to deflect the condensate from each subgroup into said lane; and an ofi'take connection for non-condensible gases extending longitudinally of each subgroup near said shell and having inlet openings for such gases at points substantially throughout the length of the water tubes.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM LONSDALE. 

